COURSE CODE: E2501P016
COURSE DATES: Wednesdays, 17th September - 26 November 2025
TUTOR: Sadie Lee
DAYS: 10
TIMES: 10:30am – 4:30pm
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Ages 18+, Beginner +
FEE: Early Bird: £607.50 / Standard Price: £675
LOCATION: Bankside Campus, 185 Park Street, SE1 9BL
Using a range of contemporary source materials, such as digital images, the moving image and images from social media, you’ll consider and explore how artists re-work, subvert and re-contextualise existing images and how this impacts on the representation of the contemporary body in painting.
Throughout this course we will analyse different types of image and how they are viewed and consumed. Considering the work of contemporary and modern painters, you’ll study a range of approaches to using or viewing the body that have been adopted by artists. Through initial discussion followed by practical activities, you will explore the language of paint and its dialogue with found images. You will consider how painters have employed migrating photographic and cinematic tropes and techniques in their paintings, such as zooming, blurring, cropping, pixelating, etc. Through discussion and practical experimentation, using a variety of different paint applications that ‘re-materialise’ the body, you will examine how these techniques and effects impact on the representation of the body in your own work.
Please note that these sessions are structured as a morning powerpoint presentation which explores an array of contextual and historical references related to contemporary figurative painting, and then practical exercises and activities in the afternoons.
Students will be able to:
Recommend booking by: August 20, 2025
All attendees must be aged 18 and over.
Choose a Beginner + course if you are looking to hone your skills, focus on a specific subject area and build your confidence. These courses are suitable for those with some basic skills in and knowledge of the taught medium, but still follow a structured path with guidance from the tutor.Beginner +
You will need to bring your own painting materials to the class. If you do not have your own materials, we recommend you order an Oil Painting Pack or Acrylic Painting Pack at the time of booking, which will be available when you arrive for your first class.
An Oil Painting Pack (£75.00) contains:
An Acrylic Painting Pack (£60.00) contains:
Certain materials can also be purchased from the Academy shop during shop hours. Please check in advance of your class if the item you require is available, as the Academy may not have this in stock.
Sadie Lee is an award-winning British figurative painter. Her challenging paintings focus on a range of subjects, including the representation of women in art, sexuality, gender and the ageing body. She has been selected to show work in many group shows including exhibitions at The I.C.A. and Museum of London. Solo shows include exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery (London), Manchester City Art Gallery, Schwules Museum (Berlin) and Museum of Modern Art (Slovenia).
Sadie Lee has lectured on her paintings at institutions including The National Portrait Gallery London, Manchester City Gallery, Tate Modern, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Walker Gallery, Liverpool. Since 1998 she has worked as a freelance art educator at the National Portrait Gallery, London and regularly teaches life drawing at The Wallace Collection.
Sadie Lee’s paintings are in private collections including those of Oscar-winning costume designer Sandy Powell, Hugh Cornwell – lead singer of seminal Punk band The Stranglers – and the renowned American collector Candice B. Groot.
Instagram: Sadieleeartist
185 Park Street,London SE1 9BL tel: +44 (0) 207407 6969
This is our new purpose built accessible campus. Find more information here
Nearest Tube/ Rail: London Bridge or Southwark (both a 10-15 minute walk). Please note that London Bridge has two exits, the most direct route is to follow signs to “Borough Market”.
Bankside Campus
Students are welcome to use The Hub during break times, where you can prepare hot drinks and/or food. You must bring your own keep-cup, water bottle or food container to the Academy as mugs, glasses, and containers will not be available in our Bankside campus.
Tea and coffee will be provided by the Academy and is available from the island unit at the end of The Hub.
We offer a number of concessions and discounts, please find more information on what we offer here.
If you would like to purchase a gift voucher to be used on our courses then you can purchase these here. Terms and Conditions
Materials & Equipment
Concessions and Discounts
Gift Vouchers
Original price was: £675.00.£607.50Current price is: £607.50.
Artwork by Sadie Lee